My 4x2x2.5 plant tank without substrate-> using my ex marine tank

[joom2106]

Hi!

Thought of sharing my first plant tank. I am using my old marine tank for this. Gave up marine tank when I moved house a year ago. Could not tahan the hassle of a marine tank (ie changing salt water, more sensitive/demanding livestock etc).

Hence my new plant tank also don't use substrate. Since I am new to plant tank, not sure if these plants will survive. Actually, all the plants are from 328. I just went there and ask the auntie to let me know all the hardy plants and bought them. Without substrate, all my plants are thus tied to wood.

Tank: 4x2x2.5 with 3 ft sump.
Livestock: 100 neon tetras...still not decided what else to add?
Plants: I think got java fern/jave moss. The rest I am not too sure?
Lighting: 4x 54W T5
Fertilzer: What to use?

Perhaps the bros here can let me know. Thanks!

[joom2106]

My old marine tank

[joom2106]

tank cleared and my old t5 set (4x54w)

[joom2106]

left side of plant tank

[joom2106]

centre part of tank

[joom2106]

right side

[Jungle-mania]

Unfortunately, many of your plants are not true aquatic plants and will die eventually being emmersed in water. The 2 tone bamboo (the one with 2 colours) is a terrestrial plants that only like its roots wet and the red plant is a true blue terrestrial plant and cannot live under water at all.

[joom2106]

I see.. thanks for the advice. I hope they survive. The main thing is I want to go for hardy plants only.

[Jervis]

Actually I understand where you are coming from when you mentioned "hardy plants only"... but compared to marine... almost all plants are considered relatively easy to keep. Why not take it on seriously? Freshwater tanks can be fun and rewarding too

[joom2106]

hehe....well knowing myself, at times due to work/kids etc, i may neglect the tank....so i do take it on "seriously" but have to go for low maintenance...if u know what i mean.

[bryan]

Some of the land plants you have in there have poisonous sap. Even if you leave the rest in there to rot, they might foul up the water. Low maintainence tanks aren't that hard, check the thread below. No gravel tanks can still be achieved using driftwood, various ferns, mosses,anubias. You can even include rooted plants in pots of substrate, and floating plants.

http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ad.php?t=11044

[joom2106]

Thanks for the tip bryan. which of my plants have poisonous sap?

[bryan]

The yellow/green 'Kuan Yin Teck'. I think only the Java Fern,Moss and the 2Indian fern infront are aquatic. Plant the rest in the garden. Nice dog, I think he wants to go for a swim.

[joom2106]

ok. Thanks

[Kristen]

Actually I understand where you are coming from when you mentioned "hardy plants only"... but compared to marine... almost all plants are considered relatively easy to keep. Why not take it on seriously? Freshwater tanks can be fun and rewarding too

Agreed. I have a marine tank (because my mom wanted it but of course, I do all the work). I much prefer my planted tanks. There is just something intrinsically calming when looking at lush greenery and fish.

Maybe you could get some more nanas and maybe a few cabomba and moss balls. Best to research plants first as LFSs sometimes foist off bad choices and stock on the ignorant customer. Guess we all have to make a living.

Also, you might want to think of getting substrate as bacteria binds to it as part of the nitrogen cycle, much like live sand.

[joom2106]

Ok. Will be getting rid of the non aquatic plants and those you suggested and perhaps some others as well. By the way, in the first photo, at the rear right, the plant with long thin leaves, what is it? Is it aquatic? Thanks.